System and method for low-dose multi-spectral X-ray tomography

Abstract

A multi-spectral tomography imaging system includes one or more source devices configured to direct beams of radiation in multiple spectra to a region of interest (ROI), and one or more detectors configured to receive the beams of radiation. The system includes a processor configured to cause movement in at least one of the components such that a first beam of radiation with a first spectrum is directed to the ROI for less than 360 degrees of movement of the ROI. The processor is also configured to process data detected by the one or more detectors, where the data results at least in part from the first beam of radiation with the first spectrum that is directed to the ROI for less than the 360 degrees of movement of the ROI. The processor is further configured to generate an image of the ROI based on the processed data.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A multi-spectral tomography imaging system comprising:
 one or more source devices configured to direct beams of radiation in multiple spectra to a region of interest (ROI); 
 one or more detectors configured to receive at least a portion of the beams of radiation; and 
 a processor in communication with the one or more source devices and the one or more detectors, wherein the processor is configured to: 
 cause a first relative movement in at least one of the one or more source devices, the one or more detectors, and the ROI such that a first beam of radiation with a first spectrum is directed to the ROI for less than 360 degrees of movement of the ROI relative to the one or more source devices and the one or more detectors; 
 process data detected by the one or more detectors, wherein the data results at least in part from the first beam of radiation with the first spectrum that is directed to the ROI for less than the 360 degrees of movement of the ROI; and 
 generate an image of the ROI based on the processed data. 
 
     
     
       2. The multi-spectral tomography imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the beams of radiation in multiple spectra comprise the first beam of radiation at the first spectrum and a second beam of radiation at a second spectrum such that the system performs dual-energy X-ray tomography or dual-energy computed tomography, and wherein the processor is configured to control the one or more source devices such that the one or more source devices direct the first beam of radiation and the second beam of radiation at the ROI each for less than 2π of the movement of the ROI relative to the one or more source devices and the one or more detectors. 
     
     
       3. The multi-spectral tomography imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more source devices comprise a single source device, and wherein the single source device comprises a radiation source and a switch configured to switch a spectrum of radiation output by the radiation source between at least two different spectra, and wherein the processor is configured to control the radiation source and the switch such that the single source device outputs the beams of radiation at each of the at least two different spectra during a respective relative movement of the ROI relative to the single source device and the one or more detectors. 
     
     
       4. The multi-spectral tomography imaging system of  claim 3 , wherein the respective relative movement of the ROI is 180° or less. 
     
     
       5. The multi-spectral tomography imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more source devices comprise a single source device, wherein the single source device comprises a radiation source and a switch configured to switch the radiation source between the first spectrum and a second spectrum, wherein the processor is configured to control the radiation source and the switch so that the single source device outputs radiation in the first spectrum during the first relative movement, and outputs radiation in the second spectrum during a second relative movement of the ROI with respect to the single source device and the one or more detectors, and wherein the first relative movement and the second relative movement are less than 360 degrees. 
     
     
       6. The multi-spectral tomography imaging system of  claim 5 , wherein the first relative movement is less than 90°, and wherein the second relative movement is less than 180°. 
     
     
       7. The multi-spectral tomography imaging system of  claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to control the radiation source and the switch such that the single source device outputs radiation continuously at the first spectrum during the first relative movement of the ROI, and wherein the processor is configured to control the radiation source and the switch such that the single source device outputs radiation continuously at the second spectrum during the second relative movement of the ROI. 
     
     
       8. The multi-spectral tomography imaging system of  claim 5 , wherein the first relative movement of the ROI with respect to the single source device and the one or more detectors is at a first angle, and wherein the second relative movement of the ROI with respect to the single source device and the one or more detectors is at a second angle, and wherein a sum of the first angle and the second angle is 360 degrees or less. 
     
     
       9. The multi-spectral tomography imaging system of  claim 8 , wherein the single source device is configured to:
 output at the first spectrum continuously for the first angle; and 
 output at the second spectrum discontinuously for the second angle. 
 
     
     
       10. The multi-spectral tomography imaging system of  claim 8 , wherein the single source device is configured to output at the first spectrum discontinuously for the first angle and output at the second spectrum discontinuously for the second angle. 
     
     
       11. The multi-spectral tomography imaging system of  claim 10 , wherein the first angle is a sum of rotation segments of relative movement during which the single source device outputs at the first spectrum. 
     
     
       12. The multi-spectral tomography imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sources comprise a single source device that directs a first beam of radiation through a filter to form a first spectrum and that directs a second beam of radiation that does not go through the filter to form a second spectrum. 
     
     
       13. The multi-spectral tomography imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to numerically solve an optimization program to process the data.